LAYLA“I’M NOT GOING to be allowed to come along, right?” I asked, amidst throwing a punch at Phillip that was aimed at his face. He was quick to dodge by leaning backwards and raising his elbow. He retaliated with a jab which I shielded with my left hand."You know how it is Lay, you can’t come yet. You are not ready,” he replied, as he threw another jab. I was going to yell in defence, but I swallowed hard, and straightened my back, holding my fists closer to my face.“We’ll see about that,” I mumbled, but loud and clear enough to be heard by Phillip.I threw a jab at him, which he brushed away by slipping to the side, and immediately, countered with an uppercut that bruised my lips open, making my blood splatter out. My wolf growled, but I controlled her quickly, as I felt my bruised lips heal.“Sorry,” he said pitifully, and that angered me more. Why was he feeling bad for me when we were in combat? I am no child! “DON’T APOLOGIZE!” I screamed at him and kicked him in the face. He
HERMESIT WAS A Tuesday evening, and there was no better place for me to be than a tavern, after a long days’ work of repairing faulty vehicles.Today was unusually jampacked with loads of activities. I had not experienced so many cars having breakdowns in one day, all my years of being a mechanic in the county of Westwoods.“I’d have one more shot please,” I called out to the bartender who wasted no time in filling my shot glass with my second round of tequila.As I downed my liquor, my phone beeped. My hands hurriedly fetched out the device from the thigh pocket of the blue faded denim jeans I was putting on and held it out to my face, in order to see the cause of the alarm. My face twitched in disappointment and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, seeing that the message was from one of my betas, my favourite one at that.`Where are you,’ the message read.I sighed before punching the keyboard of the device with my thumb while the rest of my fingers, held onto the device from behin
LAYLA“GET OUT OF my car, you irritate me,” Francis said coldly.I sat at the front seat without moving an inch. My head was bowed and I kept staring at the black jean I was putting on, that covered my thigh.I didn’t know what to think or say, but I knew I didn’t want to be dumped here like a garbage.“I said, get out of my car dummy,” he said again, peering at me for few seconds, before he got down and, proceeded to open my side of the car.He pulled me by my hair, dragging me down from the vehicle. My scalp was on fire, so I had to reluctantly obey him.The moment he let go of my hair, I landed him a punch as hard as I could on his cheek. The force I applied made his head turn sideways as I delivered the punch. He spat and speedily grabbed me by my neck.“You have a hard punch,” he whispered coldly. “Too bad it won’t be of any benefit to our pack.”“Hey! let her go man. Is that how your father taught you to treat women? Let alone your own sister?” Jacob’s voice rang out from a dist
HERMESI SETTLED ON the couch in my living room with a glass cup of orange juice in my left hand to wash down my throat, and a photographic print of Sarah in my right hand that was placed on my thigh.“Everyone wants me to find a mate Sarah, and honestly, I don’t think I’m ready for one. But this evening, I could feel that the moon goddess has provided me with another mate and she is nearby,” I mumbled after dropping the glass cup on the table before me as I stared at the photo in my hand.The act of speaking to Sarah’s pictures as if she could hear me had fast become a habit. I didn’t care, as far as it brought me relief.After coming back from work, I would pick a picture of her and highlight my day, and events that made my day. At times, if I was feeling infuriated by something or someone, I spoke to the picture and a feeling of calmness would wash over me.The only thing I didn’t say to the photographic print was the business of the pack. I never felt relieved, speaking about it t
LAYLATHE DOOR OPENED, and a woman walked in. The darkness overshadowing the room prevented me from getting a proper view of her face, but from her features, one could tell she was a woman.Her manner of walking, and her stature was somewhat familiar. But I couldn’t decipher who exactly was the silhouette figure approaching.I tried to catch a scent, but my nose failed me. This person was no ordinary human.My arm was thrown across my chest, with the intention of covering my nakedness, before I realized I wasn’t naked, but was dressed in the hoodie and the black jean I wore, before my sexual escapade with my mate. There was no way Jacob could have dressed me without my awareness. I wasn’t even a deep sleeper.I turned my head to the side, and discovered that Jacob was not on the bed with me.Who could the woman be?“Who is that?” I asked, jumping off the bed.Making use of my wolf eyes, I was shocked to see the face before me.“Mother,” I said in shock as I approached her. “How did yo
LAYLAI WAS COMPLETELY frozen where I stood, but Jacob was unmoved.He was incessantly groaning in pleasure, as the brown haired lady continued pleasing him with her mouth and hands.She was totally oblivious of my presence behind her, and Jacob didn't want to bother her with it either.Tears trickled from my eyes down to my cheek, as I watched them engage in their unscrupulous act. It was as if my tears pleased Jacob more, and his lips formed another smirk."Why? Why?" I questioned amidst sniffing and the brown haired lady jolted in shock.From where she knelt, her eyes scanned me in disgust before her gaze shifted to Jacob's face."I'll take care of it," he replied, looking down at her with a soft smile on his lips.She didn't say a thing. Instead, she stood from her position and walked majestically to the wardrobe that was adjacent to where I stood, and pulled out a robe which she threw over her body, covering her nakedness.She gave another spiteful look at me before rolling her e
LAYLAAs I PICKED to my heels, a part of me expected the Alpha to shift into his wolf, and run after me for some unknown reasons. I turned my head backwards, and I could see the rest of the pack thrown into a frenzy, chasing after me while he stood in his human form watching. My mind broke into disappointment that he wasn't bothered about me, and it seemed rather strange I felt this way.The only lighting in the thick forest I was hurtling through, was the silver rays of the moon that shone down on some part of the dried leaves on the ground. The wide branches and leaves of the maple trees that crowded the area prevented the silver rays of the full moon from lighting up the woods properly. It was thick dark, that if I was in my human form, I wouldn't see a thing.My paws were beginning to ache, while my heart throbbed heavily against my chest. I was beginning to reduce the pace at which I ran, when I felt a claw reach for my hind ankle on the right, causing me to sustain a cut from th
HERMESONE HOUR HAD passed by trying to satisfy Greg's unending thirst for knowledge regarding Layla Luther.His inquisitive personality always provided analytic approach towards solving problems or mysteries. I wondered if he would have been better as a detective, lawyer or even a politician, than the veterinary doctor he was."I don't understand. Why would you want to spare a Lutheran, she is definitely part of the Silver Moon pack, but you chose to house her, and even struck Bennie so hard because he was doing your supposed will," Greg grumbled."She's not part of the Silver Moon and Bennie shouldn't have bitten her," I snapped, amidst rolling my eyes at Greg's inability to comprehend the situation."How do you know she is not part of the Silver Moon pack? She hasn't said anything yet Hermes," Greg replied, expressing his disappointment at my vulnerability.He believed I could easily be maneuvered since I was so emotional, which was absolutely wrong. He probably thought I was feeli
HERMESTHE SMILE plastered on my face from watching couples of the pack dance, most especially Hathor and Michael disappeared when I heard Layla's troubled voice. She was struggling to breathe. I stood from the couch and strained to listen but there was nothing. I called using the mind link, still no response."Turn this music down!" I growled, throwing my cup of beer on the floor. It shattered to pieces and garnered everyone's attention along with my growl. The music was turned off and Gregory ran out of the kitchen."Layla is gone," he said."You were with her just now.""Yes. She said she was going to be back but she's not anywhere around.""No, no, no. Who do you think is behind this?" I was evidently worried. If I had danced with her all of these wouldn't be happening."Let's not jump into conclusions. Maybe she went to get something few blocks away and..""I heard her whispering my name through the mind link, Gregory. From her voice I could tell she is in danger.""Oh crap! What
LAYLA "WHAT ELSE DO I do?" I asked rhetorically. "I turned on my family, he made me swear by the moon goddess after you left. Then late at night, he became cold. He thinks he can't trust me." "Can he?" Gregory asked with raised eyebrows. "What do you mean can he? Haven't you been listening? I've literally sacrificed every other thing just to be here." Gregory nodded. "I get you. But you need to give him time, he is scared that's just it. He knows your family is out there and it bothers him that you can return to them anytime." "No, I can't. What are you saying Gregory?" "I'm telling you the Alpha's mind. He doesn't trust you anymore." "There's no way I can return to my family. They won't accept me after the stunt I pulled with them. Not like they were genuinely interested in me from the start. If not for what Alpha Hermes and this pack made me become, I wouldn't be revered by them in the first place." "Hmm," Gregory adjusted his position on his seat, leaning forward and placi
JACOBWITH EVERYTHING I had done for Layla, I wouldn't allow a local Alpha to brainwash her. She was definitely under a sort of spell. I've known her all my life, shielded her from every threat and stood by her when no one else did. Why would she want to choose someone she met less than a year ago over me? He was below standards, a local Alpha to a true blood. I grabbed a small glass vase placed on the table on my room and sent it crashing to the floor, leaving the flowers with no place of residence. I paced crazily around the room, thinking of what else I could do to win Layla over. There was no way I was letting her go. We were meant to rule the Silver Crescent pack as mates before that stupid Alpha came into the picture. He had to die, he and his whole pack. They all needed to be extinct. The support of the current Alpha was crucial. There was no way they could deny the extinction of the desert wolves wouldn't be the best thing to happen at this point. The chief council of werewolv
HERMES I DIDN'T KNOW what to think. I least expected Layla to abandon her family for me. It was confusing. What should I have expected if she warned me of her family's plan beforehand? Maybe she was being deceitful, and this was a plot to get vital information from me pertaining to the chief council of wolves. I needed to be careful. It was necessary to admit, I felt relieved seeing her. It did not occur to me that she was in the vehicle taken down by Gregory. If I knew beforehand, I would have told him to use another vehicle for distraction. The way she stood up for my pack in front of her own was commendable, regardless of whatever harm that befell her as a result of our sudden attack. Still, it could be a ploy. My feelings remained for her but not an iota of trust was left. To build a solid relationship, trust is needed. I pulled over at the driveway of the house and heaved a sigh. Today was a huge relief even if I didn't act like it. No member of the pack was lost and Layla is b
LAYLAI WAS PACING around my room ruminating on why Alpha Hermes didn't pick up his phone when I called. He refused to respond to any of my text either. Was he that mad at me? Or Hunt had gotten to him. Perhaps, Jacob went to Westwoods secretly with another pack unit to end the Alpha. Several thoughts kept running through my mind. I was trying to stay sane. I should probably return to Westwoods no matter the cost.As the hours passed, my fear and anxiety increased. I couldn't sleep or eat. I was really worried. I felt very foolish for telling my family about the conversation between I and Hermes. Now I was going to send everyone to an early grave including James and the man I loved. I was almost in tears. Night had taken over the day and there was little or nothing I could do to stop the coming massacre.I decided to speak to Jacob and Derek at the same time. I should be able to talk them out of it. I communicated with them using the wolf link and we agreed to meet at the living room.
HERMES"GIVE ME A goddamn reason to trust you after what you did to me last night, huh?" the sheriff barked."Because we could have taken down your whole team this morning, but we chose not to and decided to come along as your friends. Can't believe you show your hospitality to friends by shooting them and locking them in a cage," I responded in a guttural whisper, leaning towards the prison bars."Alright, let me handle this, Alpha." Gregory stepped forward, pulling me backwards. We had been locked up for two hours while the sheriff was doing his duties. He didn't look a bit comfortable; he was probably finding it hard to comprehend the changes in his system."Listen, Sheriff. You are putting us all at a big risk, including yourself," Gregory stated."How? You bastards are to be blamed for whatever crap I'm feeling now and you expect me to let you get away with it?" The sheriff interrupted harshly."Relax, your voice is a bit loud. I know how you feel, I know everything is loud and i
LAYLAHEARING THE ALPHA rage frightened me so much. I couldn't bear to listen anymore. I dropped the phone with shaky hands. I was not sure if my choice was right. I know my heart was with Hermes, and nothing could be done to change that. But with the anger filled voice I just heard, it was hard to tell which feeling was greater, the fear or love I had for him. He just threatened I and my family. Honestly, I was scared to my marrow. Not because of the threat, but because I had no idea which side to be on if things escalated into a war between the packs.My phone rung. I had no effrontery to pick knowing it was him. Right now, all I needed was space to think. Behind the anger he showed were broken pieces he was trying to hide, that I could understand. Though, I wanted to be with Hermes, I had to play it cool with my family and Jacob. Things appeared to be under control since I agreed to stay. I know it could go out of control if they knew my mind was changed.Instead of sleeping in the
HERMESMY EYES OPENED at the sound of my ringing phone. What was so important that couldn't wait till dawn. This was the middle of the night and I was trying to sleep off my worries. I reached for my phone and contemplated picking it or not since it was an unknown number. I opted for the former and to my delight, it was the voice I yearned to hear."Layla?" I inquired, amid jumping off my bed in a mixture of surprise and excitement."Yes," she responded."I miss you. Where have you been?"There was silence. "Hello." I walked towards the window anxiously. Probably, she was outside, calling on me to open the door."I'm with my family," she responded finally. I almost wish she didn't. My fear was confirmed. Still, I refused to believe.I chuckled. "Nice joke. But your family is right here. Are you outside? Do you need me to get the door for you?" There was no response again. "Hello."She sniffed. "No, I'm not. I mean I'm with my real family, the Silver Crescent pack."My heart was so hea
LAYLAGLASS CUPS PRODUCED a clank as they touched each other. Everyone had a smile on their face. "Cheers!" We all said amid gently ramming our cups into each other while an orchestra performed in the hall-like living room. Our mission to take out an important pack member in the hierarchy of the North claw was successful. Thanks to my plan.While the North claws were too busy celebrating their new affiliations with members of various packs including ours, I, Jacob, and Derek were waiting in one of their rooms for a beta or two of the pack to walk in then we strike.We were shocked when the Alpha of the North claw pack walked into the ambushed room. It turned out we were in the wrong room, but it was for the best. We targeted betas of the pack, but the moon goddess walked the Alpha into our trap. Who were we to back down out of fear?The fight with the Alpha was tough. He matched the energy of three betas. He was indeed a strong Alpha. Eventually, we won, breaking off an arm before sli